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Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of toddler who died in Heysham gas explosion

George Hinds

A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following a gas explosion at a house in Heysham in which a toddler died.

Darren Greenham, 44, of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster, was remanded back into custody to be sentenced at a later date after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of George Hinds.

He also pleaded guilty to theft from a meter/automatic machine, when appearing before Judge Robert Altham, The Honorary Recorder of Preston, on Wednesday.

The explosion occurred on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham at around 2.40am on May 16, 2021.

Emergency services attended and found two houses collapsed with serious damage to a third property.

George, aged two years and 10 months, died as a result of the blast. 

His parents Vicky and Steve were also injured, and taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged. They continue to be supported by specially trained police officers.

A criminal investigation was launched in the days following the explosion and detectives, assisted by gas experts, identified the cause of the explosion as a gas pipe which had been cut inside number 20 Mallowdale Avenue.

In October, police made four arrests in connection with the investigation.

Sharon Greenham, 52, of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster, is also charged with manslaughter and theft from a meter/automatic machine and is set to stand trial at Preston Crown Court on October 4.

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